With average daily sales of $60,000-$70,000 between the two restaurants the company operates, maintaining the heavy demand of MCO’s travelers is no easy task, But since starting with Areas at the end of July, she has hit the ground running by breaking the “single day” sales record and is well on her way to breaking weekly and monthly records.
The experiences of working for companies such as the Tavistock Restaurant Collection and Kitchen Restaurant Group have made Megan well-versed in developing solid relationships and increasing year-over-year sales. Her future goals include tipping the scale even further by reaching $25 million in sales within two years and adding another restaurant to the Areas portfolio at MCO.
She is always ready to turn obstacles into opportunities and understands how larger issues often stem from a multitude of smaller operational deficiencies that add up over time. So, part of Megan’s hands-on approach to management involves a lot of daily observations at both sites and using those to develop solid action plans. She makes adjustments where necessary—nipping any deficiencies in the bud and keeping MCO a well-oiled machine.
One of the reasons Megan joined the Areas team is to experience corporate culture on the larger scale of Areas. “Having a broader bandwidth gives me the ability to positively affect change in the business, in the lives of my team, and in how the sites function as a whole. If there is one thing the past couple of years have shown us, is that both travelers and staff have been through a lot.” Megan discusses the emotional toll that has taken on her staff and what her plans are to help.
“Everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about. One of my largest areas of focus right now is team building and trying to incorporate some fun in our workday to boost morale. I am trying to help staff understand that we are one team with one goal; we have the ability to really make a positive impact on a customer’s day. When I observe staff do this successfully, and then watch them be rewarded with an amazing tip because they went above and beyond, that is my biggest win.”
Megan believes the right attitude will reflect in leadership. She would like to make a larger impact within the company by directing her knowledge, drive, and experience where it will add the most value. She has a passion for developing opportunities to help others grow and strongly believes in the merits of promoting from within. “No one wants to stay in the same position forever. The more opportunities we give others to work towards and grow, the more successful our company will be.” Her personal end goal is to learn from her leadership team and grow her career at Areas.